O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you ... ? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? —Galatians 3:1-3, NKJV
Paul wrote these words to the Galatians, who had difficulty understanding grace and who kept putting law and works back into their equation. Apparently, the Galatians had experienced a filling of the Holy Spirit and, with it, certain manifestations of spiritual gifts. Paul reminded them that just as being spiritually gifted is by grace, so justification is by grace. You can turn that idea around as well. Just as we are saved by grace, not by works of merit, we receive the gifts of the Spirit by grace, not works.
{ PRAYER STARTER }
Thank You, Father, that Your gift of grace has provided justification from my sins and has enabled me to be the receiver of Your gifts of the Spirit. May I never assume that my works enabled me to receive either of these blessings.
Just as we are saved by grace, not by
works of merit, we receive the gifts
of the Spirit by grace, not works.
